Penguins' Game 1 defense against Syracuse Crunch just a continuation of regular-season success

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's shut down of the Syracuse Crunch's high-flying offense in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday was far more habit than fluke.

Syracuse and the Penguins have met nine times this year, including the regular season. In those nine games, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has given up 21 goals for an average of 2.33 goals per game. That's almost a full goal less than Syracuse's AHL-leading average during the regular season.

The Penguins' physical play creates the mindset in the Crunch players of expecting pressure and hits. That can distract the playmakers, who know they have a blink less of time to try to make something happen.

"I think we just have to chip pucks in and go after it. We can't be fancy with these guys,'' said Crunch captain Mike Angelidis.

"It's a bit of a contrast in styles. They have a high-powered offense. They want to play off the rush. We've done a good job all year of playing good defensively,'' Pens defenseman Joey Mormina said Sunday morning. "We have a lot of respect for their team. We know they have a lot of really good players.

"In playoff series, every team wants to impose their will on the other team. I think we did a pretty good job of playing our style. The message (tonight) is going to be the same. We need to come to the rink expecting a better game from them and we need to play better ourselves.''

Mormina irritated both the Crunch and its fans Saturday. As he skated off the ice after the game, Mormina was taunted by a group of fans (safely behind the glass) yelling and gesturing at him. Mormina politely waved back.

"Any time you can win in a visiting building, it feels good,'' he said.

- Tonight's refs will be Trevor Hanson and Terry Koharski. Koharski's nephew, Jamie, worked Game 1.

- Through five home games the Crunch is averaging 4,441 fans, fourth in the AHL playoffs. The teams above Syracuse, Hershey (7,559), Manchester (5,503) and Rochester (4,565) all were eliminated from the postseason after playing one or two home games.

- Tonight's game will mark the latest calendar date that Syracuse has ever played. The team was eliminated from the 1996 postseason on May 25.

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Trevor Smith has a goal and a helper in four straight games.

- The Penguins are 7-1 all-time in best-of-seven series after winning Game 1; their only loss was the 2001 Calder Cup Finals vs. Saint John. The Crunch is 1-2 in best-of-sevens after losing Game 1

- AHL teams are 26-31 on the road this postseason, but all four conference finalists have winning records away from home: